We can't afford to be arrogant. Civilizations *do* fall as well as rise. If we think we're going to run a first world country on Wal-Mart greeters and masseuses; if we think that spreading our forces all over the globe for "nation-building," and that an *inefficient,* *aging* and *clunky* defense industry are all going to keep us from being a plum ripe for the picking, we're delusional.
Almost fifty years ago, President Eisenhower built the interstate highway system *for national defense.* (Suburbia was an unintended consequence.) In the 1960s, we had a space program *for the national defense.* In that same era, we loaned college money to future teachers under a program whose original name was the National *Defense* Student Loan (later changed to "Direct" to salve the consciences of those against the Vietnam War.) We saw an educated populace as a *national security priority.*
Similarly, we need to treat engineering as a high priority issue of national security/defense. Same thing with manufacturing capabilities. But I fear we won't see it until it's too late.
You bring up some excellent points about the Chinese. My focus has been on gross civil rights violations, and forced abortions, but I haven't been keeping up with issues like their space program.
The first thing that I thought of were bomb shelters, regarding large amounts of concrete and steel. I don't know what they're doing with all those engineers, but when a totalitarian government tells you what to study for, you do it. Our students have a choice, so perhaps we should be guiding our students towards these careers and quit importing foreign born engineers. Will it happen? Probably not.
I didn't realize that we've been neglecting the space program. To sum up a reply to your post, my mom used to talk about those who are determined to bring about a One World Government. I thought, "yeah right, like that's ever going to happen". Our large manufacturing plants and jobs started rolling out the door after NAFTA. Then they left Mexico and ended up in China. Then the tech jobs started disappearing to places like India. Meanwhile, illegal immigrants are flooding in and bankrupting our state governments.
Imo, the border problem could have been contained many generations ago, but for some reason it isn't considered a priority. I'm sure you know that when unemployment figures are listed and touted as proof that there are more jobs, it's bunk for the most part. People ran out of benefits and no longer show up on the unemployment rolls.
Families are experiencing a lifestyle regression. I'm talking about Americans who mind their own business, so to speak. Average skilled people who are being hammered by rental housing costs, lower pay, and higher costs for food and utilities. More and more families are doubling up and living in the same house. Since you mentioned the America of fifty years ago, remember when you could buy a small starter home, and work at the same job until retirement? Of course this required the proper attitude towards saving and responsibility. Things that have been actively discouraged for the last forty years.
It seems like all the "little problems" interlink with one another. Don't get me started on the quality of education.
Best post in a long time.
Totally agree.